Support for illuminating units



Aug. 17 192$. 1,59,3?1

P. A. NlRDLJNGER SUPPORT FOR ILLUMINATING UNITS Filed Feb. 21. 1925 Patented Aug. 17, 19 26.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ra'rnicir A. -.I NIRDLINGER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

surron'r FOR ILLUMINATING UNITS.

' .Application filed February 21,1925. sermm. 10,872.

The present invention 'relates to-illuminatmg devices intended primarily for use in operating rooms for surgeons, and in other places where lighting without the casting of shadows is desirable.

A' particular object of the invention is'to providea support or mounting for an illuminating unit of the character disclosed -1n my copending application Serial No.

518,816, filed November 30', 1921, the support being adapted to permit ready tilting of the unit proper relative to its immediate carrying element in the support, and also adapted to permit rotation of such immediate carryingelement abouta vertical axis to movethe unit bodily. in a. horizontal plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide a-support comprising a horizontal arm which is pivotally mounted for adjustment about a horizontal axis for raising and lowering the unit and rotatable'about its longitudinal axis to invert the lamp.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a support which issimple in construetion, adapted to be readily installed and manufactured at a comparatively small cost and which is provided with a single operatv ing handle'whereby any or all of the vari ous adjustments may. be made.

The above'and various other objects of I i the] invention will become apparent as the description-proceeds in connection with one the line-5 5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

-Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates the substantially spherical casing of anilluminating unit having a plurality of open ings 11 in its side wall through which rays are emitted from a. source of light -12 and directed against a plurality of ad ustable reflecting elements-or mirrors 13 carried by horizontal arms 14 secured to the casing. The mirrors 13 are adjusted so :as to direct all of the rays which are emitted horizon tally from the casing, downwardlyin the form of separate beams upon a common field.

A bottom opening provided with a lens 15' afiords an additional beam directed toward the same field. 'The unit also includes a top source of light 16 enclosed by a globe 17; this source, preferably receives current from a circuit separate from that which supplies the interior light l2 so that in case there' is a discontinuance of light from the source 12 the top supply 16 may be em ployed. Theforegoing is a general description of an illuminating unit of the character set forth and disclosed more in detail in the copending application above referred to and no further explanation at this point is] thought inecessary.

Referring nowto the support for the unit, 18 indicates a vertical carrying rod which, in the present instance, is shown as suspended from a ceiling 19. Upon the rod is mounted a horizontal arm 20,'Wl11(3l1 serves as thefiimmediate carrying element for the unit. The arm is mounted so that it may be tilted or swung about a horizon tal axis for moving the lamp toward and -from the illuminated field and the unit is positioned upon the arm for tilting relative to the arm, to vary the angle at which the beams are directed toward the field, as may be desired. At one side of the rod 18 upon the arm 20 is positioned a forked-bracket,

the fingers 21 of which extend laterally and forwardly from a substantially ball-like socket member 22, which receives the end 20' of the arm 20. The outer ends 23 of the fingers 21 are bent upwardly and at 25 carry short hollow pins 24 which are rigid and extend into openings in the sides of the casing 10, whereby the latter is mounted for.

tilting movement about thepins which constitute a horizontal axis. ment of the illuminating unit is effected by means of a depending handle 26 rotatably mounted in a bearing 27 in the arm at the opposite side of the rod 18 from the unit.

Tilting adjust- The handle carries a worm 28 which meshes v 7 with a worm gear 29 mounted upon a shaft 30 in a bracket 31. Eccentrically connected to the worm gear is a link 32, which extends through a slot 33 in the rod for con nection with a link 34 Within the rod and extending longitudinally of the latter through an opening 35 in the socket member 22. At its forward end 36 the link 34 is connected to the illuminating unit below its pivot pins 24, and, as will be understood, adjustment of the gear 29 by means of the handle 26 will tilt the unit upon pins 24. A casing 37 encloses the worm 28 and gear 29, so that. the entire operating mechanism is housed.

The arm'20 may be mounted upon the rod 18 in any desired manner, but, preferably, so that it may be (1) pivotally tilted about a horizontal axis to raise and lower the unit, (2) rotatable about a vertical axis to move the unit bodily .in a horizontal plane, and (3) rotatable about its longitudinal axis for the purpose of inverting the lamp.

The end of the rod 18 is threaded to receive an inverted U-shaped bracket 38 through the top or connecting strip 39, to which the rod extends; rotatable on the rod and a stop collar 40 on the rod limits the rotation of the bracket downwardly upon the rod, Between the depending side strips 41 is positioned a substantially ball-like socket 42 formed in upper and.lower sections united by means of screws which extend through the facing side lugs 43 on the two sections. The lower section 44 has an outwardly extending lug 45 at each side which receives a pivot pin 46 extending through the bracket strip 41. The socket is thus mounted in the bracket so that it may pivot about the pins 46. The arm 20 extends through aligned openings 47 in the socket and carries within the socket a ball 48 which is fixedly held in position on the arm by means of screws 49. The

ball is diametrically bored to receive the arm, and has a relatively close fit within the socket, which permits the arm to be rotated therein when it is desirable to invert the illuminating unit, as for example, when the light within the casing 10 fails and it is necessary to employ the top light 16. By ad usting screws 43 which pass through lugs 43'the frictional resistanceof the ball in its socket may be regulated and obviously any suitable means upon the socket for frictionally engaging the ball might be employed forthis purpose. The arm 20 may e rotated about rod 18 as a vertical axis to move the unit bodily in a horizontal plane by means of the handle 26. Due to the short threading upon the end of the rod and the stop collar 40, the extent of this rotative adjustment maybe limited as desired. One complete revolution ordinarily The bracket is.

will suffice and the stop collar is adjusted to prevent further movement and twisting of the wires. Obviously, the arm and bracket 38 may be rotated about a vertical axis to move the unit bodily in a horizontal plane irrespective of the tilting of the unit upon the arm or the tilting position of the arm and unit together in the bracket 38.

The arm may also be tilted by means of the handle to raise and lower the unit, this adjustment being accomplished through rocking movement of the socket bracket 42 upon the. pivot pins 46.

Should it be desirable at any time to invert the unit, this, too, may be done through the handle 26, which may be employed to rotate the arm in the socket 47.

In order to counteract the weight of the illuminating unit a counter-balance or weight 50 is positioned upon one end of the arm and the arm may be deflected downwardly at 51 in order to offset the weight from the horizontal plane of the arm, this being desirable in view of the vertical extent of the illuminating unit.

Switches 52, 53, control, respectively, the separate circuits for the lights 12 and 16. The wires for the switches may pass through a single housing lead-in cable 54, which connects the arm with the lower end of the rod 18. This cable is of sufficient length to permit movement ofjthe arm; it is fixedly connected at one end to an opening 55 in the arm and at the other end in an opening 56 in the stop collar 40 the latter serving also to close the end of the rod 18.

The wires 57 leading to the bulb 12 and wires 58 for the light source 16 external to the casin 10 extend through the arm 20 and the ngers 21 of the unit supporting bracket, whereby they are completely housed. Wires 57 and 58 are ledv through separate fingers (Fig. 5) and it will be observed that one of the pivot pins 24 carries the socket 12 for the bulb 12 so that the latter will remain sationary asthe casing 10 is tilted. The wires 58 are led through the other pivot pin to the socket for the external bulb 16;- By carrying the wire through the non-rotatable pins 24 and mounting the bulb 12 upon one of these pins the wires are relieved of twisting which would otherwise occur when the unit is tilted and movement of .the bulb, when the unit is tilted, is avoided.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the handle 26 may be used (1) to tilt the illuminating unitupon the arm 20 for the purpose of varying the position .of the illuminated fields; (2) to move the arm in the bracket 38 about a horizontal axis to raise and lower the unit; (3) to rotate the rod and bracket about a vertical axis thereby mov'in the unit bodily in a horizontal plane, an (4) to rotate the arm about its longitudinal axis and thereby in vert the unit. The connections -at the various joints are all of such character that the unit will remain in any position to which it is moved, this being true with respect to the raising and lowering of the arm because of the fact that the counterlaterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said rod at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis, an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of said rod having a tilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle operable independently of said arm having connections with said illuminating unit for positively tilting the same without moving said arm.

2. A support for a lighting unit comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod and extending laterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said rod at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis, an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of said rod having atilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle operable independently of said arm and located thereon haying connections with said illuminating unit for positively tilting the same without moving said arm.

3. A support for a lighting unit comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod and extending laterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said rod at an intermediate point'about a horizontal axis, an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of said rod having a tilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle operable independently of said arm having connections with said illuminating unit for positively tilting the same without moving said arm, said connections including a link extending longitudinally of the arm operatively associated at one end with the unit and connected adjacent its other end with said handle.

4. A support for a lighting unit. comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod and extending laterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally ad justable on said rod at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis, an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of said rod having a tilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle operable independently of said arm having connections with said illuminating unit for positively tilting the same without mov- -ing said arm, said connections including a link extending longitudinally of the arm within the same and operatively associated at one end with the unit and connected adjacent its other end with said handle.

5. Arsupport for a lighting unit, comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod and extending laterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said rodat' an intermediate point about a horizontal axis, an illuminat ing unit on said arm at one side of said rod having a tiltingadjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle operable independently of said arm having connections with said illuminating unit for positively tilting the same without moving said arm, said connections including a worm and gear operable by said handle, and a link connected with said gear and extending longitudinally of the arm within the same, said link being connected with said illuminatin unit for tilting the same.

6. i support for a lighting unit comprising a vertical rod, 2; horizontal supporting arm carried by saidrod, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said rod at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis to raise and lower the portion of the arm at one side of said rod, means for supporting an illuminating unit on saidarm at one side of the rodfor a tilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle for adjusting said arm, said handle being also operable for efiecting said tilting adjustment of the illuminating unit without moving the arm.

7. A support for a lighting unit'comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said rod at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis to raise and lower the portion of the arm at one side of said rod and rotatably adjustable about a vertical axis to swing the arm in a horizontal plane, means for supporting an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of the rod for a tilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle for adjusting said arm, said handle being also.movable for effecting tilting ad justment of the illuminatingunit without movingthe arm.

8. A support for a lighting unit comprising a vertical rod, :1- horizontal arm carried by said rod, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said' rod at anintermediate point about a. horizontal axisfrotatably adjustable on the rod about a vertical-axis and also rotatable about its own longitudinal axis,

means for supporting an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of said rod for a tilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle adapted to serve as means for effecting any or all of said adjustments of the rod and having connections with said illuminating unit for,

positively efi'ecting said tilting adjustment of the latter independently of the arm.

9. A support for a lighting unit comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod, said arm being pivotally adjustable on said rod at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis to raise and lower the portion of the arm at one side of said rod and rotatably adjustable about its own longitudinal axis whereby to invert a unit carried thereon, means for supporting an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of the rod for a tilting adjustment relative to the arm about a horizontal axis, and a handle for adjusting said arm, said handle being operable for effecting said tilting adjustment of the illuminating unit without moving the arm.

10. A support for a lighting unit comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod and extending laterally therefrom, said-arm being pivot- .ally adjustable at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis, an illuminatin unit on said arm at one side of the same an having the major portion of its weight at one side of the rod, and a counterweight on said arm on the opposite side of said rod, said counterweight being offset from the longitudinal plane of the arm and located at the opposite side of the arm from saidilluminating unit, said arm being rotatable about its longitudinal'axis to invert said unit.

11. A support for a lighting unit comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod and extending laterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally adjustable at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis, an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of the rod and positioned substantially above said arm, and a counterweight on said arm on the opposite side of said rod, said counterweight being offset from the longitudinal plane of the arm and located below the same, said arm being rotatable about its longitudinal axis to invert said unit.

12. A support for a lighting unit, comprising a vertical rod, a horizontal supporting arm carried by said rod and extending laterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally adjustable at an intermediate point about a horizontal axis, an illuminating unit on said arm at one side of the rod and positioned substantially above said arm, said arm being rotatably adjustable about its own longitudinal axis to invert said unit, and a counterweight on said arm on the ing having a plurality of openings disposed laterally and radially with respect to said source of light for projecting a plurality of beams from said source, the casing having a light transmitting opening below said source of light, a reflector supported by the casing above said opening and on the opposite side of said light source, means for bending and directing beams issuing through said laterally disposed openings from separate points upon a common field, a trunnion bearing for said casing adapted to permit tilting movement of the latter, a substantially horizontal arm carrying said bearing, said source of light being supported by the bearing independently of said casing, whereby the casing may be tiltably adjusted about said source of light with said reflector, and wires for said source of light concealed within said arm and leading to the li ht source through said bearing.

14:. n a device of the class described, an illuminating unit comprising a casing, a source of light within said casing, the casing having a plurality of openings disposed laterally and radially with respect to said source of light for projecting a plurality of beams from said source, the casing having a light transmitting opening below said source of light, a reflector supported by the casing above said opening and on the opposite side of said light source, means for bending and directing beams issued through said laterally disposed openings from separate points upon a common field, a trunnion bearing for said casing adapted to permit tilting movement of the latter, a substantially horizontal arm carrying said bearing, said source of light being supported by the bearing independently of said casing, whereby the casing may be tiltablyadjusted about said source of light with said reflector, a separate source of light upon the exterior of.v said casing adapted to provide general illumination, and wires for said sources of light concealed within said arm and leading thereto through said bearing.

15. An illuminating unit comprising a casing, an initial source of light within said casing, the casing having a plurality of openings disposed laterally and radially with respect to said source of light for projecting a plurality of beams from said source substantially radially, and a bottom opening below said source of light, said bottom opening having associated therewith a suitable lens disposed substantially within the plane of said casing wall, a plurality of reflectors outside said casing and carried thereby for bending and directing said beams from separate means serving to support said light source points upon a common field, a reflector in Within said casing independently of the cas- 10 and carried by said casing above said boting whereby the light source is stationary tom opening on the opposite side of-said with respect to said casing in its tilting 5 light source, and a separate source of lightv movements.

upon the exterior of said casing adapted to In testimony whereof I have hereunto set provide general illumination, means for supmy hand. porting said unit for tilting movement, said A PATRICK A. NIRDLINGER. 

